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What is the most underappreciated book?

 

Elaine Cunningham (co-author of The City of Splendors): J. Robert King’s Arthurian trilogy, particularly the first book, Mad Merlin.  If there were any justice in the world, Rob would routinely be mentioned in the same breath as Mary Stewart, T.H. White, and Marion Zimmer Bradley. (Friend Elaine)

Ed Greenwood (author of The Sword Never Sleeps): Boy, there are lots, but let me mention Way Down Cellar by Phil Stong, which captures growing up in America during a certain era perfectly, and is a hoot to read, to boot. Runner-up: Trigger John’s Son, by Tom Robinson, in the same vein but deeper and less hilarious. In sf: Spider Robinson’s Time Pressure. In fantasy: for children, The Midnight Folk by John Masefield, and for adults, The Face In The Frost by John Bellairs.

Jak Koke (author of The Edge of Chaos): Singularity by Bill DeSmedt - this small press book won some awards, but was never picked up by a major publisher. It is seriously awesome - great characters, great plot, great premise. (Friend Jak)

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Character creation is my favorite part of both writing and gaming. When I first discovered the Jung-Myers-Briggs test (“The best-known and most trusted personality assessment tool available today.”—CCP) in high school, I was in heaven. I ready countless articles and two books about it, made everyone I know take it, and it was only a short time before all of the characters in my books had Jung-Myers-Briggs types assigned to them.

Although it was designed for analyzing people, I think it actually works better for characters, as with characters, we have perfect information and are much more likely to be objective. I particularly love how it gets you to think about a character in terms of how it interacts with the world and others.

Here are some questions for character creation inspired from my days as a Personality Quiz Junkie, followed by a character profile form I created to give authors when they’re having a hard time getting into the heads of their characters and for my own use as a writer.

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Tell us two truths and one falsehood!

Ed Greenwood (author of The Sword Never Sleeps): I have acted in movies (portraying a female character in one). I have hosted a radio show. I have kissed an ostrich.

Paul S. Kemp (author of Shadowrealm): I’ve hugged Bob Salvatore. I’ve hugged Angelina Jolie. I’ve hugged former President Bill Clinton. (Friend Paul)

Jak Koke (author of The Edge of Chaos): I have a master’s degree in molecular genetics. I own a polyamory-themed merchandise business. I have edited over 200 novels. (Friend Jak)

Erin Evans (author of The God Catcher): I was raised by a rocket scientist and a former spy. I have lost approximately three games of Boggle in my entire life. I illustrated a published book. (Friend Erin)

Read the rest here!

What’s your favorite excuse not to write? (Question by Erik Scott de Bie)

 

Ed Greenwood (author of The Sword Never Sleeps): Ahem. “It’s been thirty-six continuous hours of work and life and rushing around now, and I have to sleep. The words I type aren’t making any sense anymore.” I use this one too often. No, I’m not kidding.

Paul S. Kemp (author of Shadowrealm): My favorite excuse is: “I’m so far ahead of deadline that I can take the day off.” I have never been able to use this excuse, alas. (Friend Paul)

Jak Koke (author of The Edge of Chaos): There are so many! With two kids and a full-time day job, it’s not easy to carve out time. I try to stick to a schedule and make sure everyone knows it. If I don’t write during the allotted time, it’s usually because I have gotten sucked too far into some interested research on the internet. (Friend Jak)

Read the rest here!

Weapon of Choice 

Elaine Cunningham (co-author of The City of Splendors): A quarterstaff.  There’s less splatter involved, which means fewer pesky bloodstains to scrub out of my tunics. (Friend Elaine)

Ed Greenwood (author of The Sword Never Sleeps): The brain. As in, outwitting foes. However, if my answer has to be a physical weapon…back when I had knees that worked, I did a fair amount of fencing, both sport and SCA fighting (as well as judo, aikido, and other fashionable ways of maiming oneself at the time), and for me, the sensual tops among weapons is a finely-made, beautifully-balanced longsword. Kiss the gleam, kiss the gleam…

Paul S. Kemp (author of Shadowrealm): Rapier-like wit. Barring that, a hammer. And all I see are nails, baby. (Friend Paul)

Read the rest here!